Posted on 07/16/2004 5:53:02 PM PDT by AskStPhilomena
Although today is a feast of Our Lady, let's never forget to also honor her spouse, St Joseph. By honoring St Joseph we at the same time give honor to Our Lady and to her Divine Son.
Ping.
OK - I give up. How can Jesus appear as a two-year old Child? In 1917, no less? 1900+ years after the Incarnation. Would somone please explain that to me?
The same way He sheds His Blood at every Mass.
God is omnipotent.
Ping
That was an extrememly lame answer. The Lord Jesus Christ, Creator of the universe, Giver of life, at the right hand of the Father, would appear as an Infant - why?
That was an extrememly lame answer. The Lord Jesus Christ, Creator of the universe, Giver of life, at the right hand of the Father, would appear as an Infant - why?
Oh, I just love St. Joseph.
Jesus appeared to his apostles and St. Paul after he died and rose from the dead; God the father visited Abraham in the form of an angel. The Holy Spirit manifested in the form of a dove. God in his infinite wisdom, comes in the appearance He chooses. Who are we to question why?
***God in his infinite wisdom, comes in the appearance He chooses. Who are we to question why?***
1 John 4:1
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
"The Marian Apparitions: Divine Intervention or Delusion?"
http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/inquirers/marian_apparitions.aspx
VERY interesting article on this topic.
***The same way He sheds His Blood at every Mass.***
LotI, this is not true according to Hebrews...
"And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God... For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified." - Heb 13
"After" he offered his sacrifice (Past tense) he sat down at God's right hand (present state).
Please note the reference to the "repeatedly" offering a sacrifice in direct contract to Jesus' "one time" offering.
Again...
"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." - Heb 12
He endured (not endures) the cross and the shame for the joy he looked forward to (and now experiences) at God's right hand.
I always pray to the Three Hearts. Mega bumpus ad summum.
And every priest indeed standeth daily ministering and often offering the same sacrifices which can never take away sins. But this man, offering one sacrifice for sins, for ever sitteth on the right hand of God, From henceforth expecting until his enemies be made his footstool. For by one oblation he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. (Douay-Rheims Heb 10:11-14)
But this man offering one sacrifice for sins, for evermore sitteth in the right half of God the Father [for evermore sitteth on the right half of God the Father]; (Wycliffe New Testament Heb 10:12)
"offering" is also the reading of the Vulgate, but the Nova Vulgata has "having offered".
You are absolutely right. The amount of mysticism in the Roman Catholic Church amazes me. That is the danger of avoiding sola scriptura. There is no objective standard by which these ideas can be measured.
Jesus appeared to the Apostles, and to Paul, but not as a two-year old. And it was the Second Person of the Trinity that appeared to Abraham ("No man has seen the Father, except by Me," Jesus said.) And the Holy Spirit having no earthly form did in fact manifest Himself as a dove...but that does not answer the question: to what end does the King of Kings, and the Lord of Lords manifest Himself as a two-year old Child?
Of course there is.
It should be noted that though many might write concerning Catholic truth, there is this difference that those who wrote the canonical Scripture, the Evangelists and Apostles, and the like, so constantly assert it that they leave no room for doubt. That is what he means when he says "we know his witness is true." Galatians 1:9, "If anyone preach a gospel to you other than that which you have received, let him be anathema!" The reason is that only canonical Scripture is a measure of faith. Others however so wrote of the truth that they should not be believed save insofar as they say true things. (St. Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on the Gospel of John 21)
The same way he rose from the dead.
I have a suggestion... I would read up on the "Divine Infant Jesus of Prague". Just "google" a search under the title and you should get many sites that would probably be able to explain better than me.
But before you do this, I want to explain one of the many misconceptions of catholics. We do NOT worship statutes! They are simply reminders and help people remain focused. I have a statue of the Divine Infant. I know for a fact, Jesus is NOT in that statue, it simply reminds me of his infancy and allows me to venerate the divine infancy. It is no different than having a picture of my mom who I really loved and miss terrible, and who has since passed away, on my wall. I might look at her picture and say Mom, pray FOR me or ask the Lord this....
Sure Catholic go straight to Jesus, I do all the time. The church cannonizes saints for reasons, mostly because they loved Jesus to the best of their ability and the church wants them to be role models for us,i.e. the Virgin Mary. She is the best role model for mothers and wives. Jesus was never a wife. I believe God the Father wants His son in his infancy venerated, because He wants every aspect of His son honored and venerated, so I guess that may be why Christ manifests himself in the form of an infant.
If you look in the old testament, the Jews made holy wherever God revealed himself, i.e. an altar would be set up, etc. There are probably hundreds of devotions for every aspect of Christ's life, the devotion of his infancy, the devotion of his stripes, his crown of thorns, his holy face, etc. Catholics want to venerate EVERY aspect of Christ since his life was a total sacrifice.
If you still have questions, please ask and I will answer to the best of my ability. Another good site is Catholic Answers, I believe it's catholicanswers.com but I'm not exactly sure. They also have a radio show where you can call and ask questions. I myself have learned alot from them.
I am pleased with your post. So many just attack our beliefs due to ignorance, but I admire people who simply want to know just to be more informed. I take my hat off to you.
God bless you.
You must not have kids. Two year-olds are not infants. Maybe He did it to reach certain people. Maybe he did it to reach the children to whom the Blessed Virgin was appearing.
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